Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility Jump to content

Adding To Greatness....


jasonk931
 Share

Recommended Posts

I am the proud owner of an Hd500 for a year now. I took my Hd for a ROCKIN good Sunday anniversary this past Sunday. She's sleek, and slim, and on fire when cranked! LoL. I like my Hd500 a little bit.....

 

To add to greatness, I have combined a TECH 21 BRITISH, and a PRESONUS TUBE PRE V2. Wow! A pluralistic tonal marriage of ROCKIN proportions! I love the analog punch of the Tech 21. Just wanted to give props where due....

 

Line 6: THE GREATEST!

TECH 21: BEST FRIEND

Presonus: THE COMFORTING TUBE FRIEND OF THE BEST FRIEND.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

glad you had some great playing experience! ;)

How did you combine those elements in your POD rig? FX loop?

 

I'm thinkin about adding a tube distortion/preamp like the Blackstar Dual for my main heavy tone in order to have an analog distortion source instead of digital.

Yes, the Tech 21 Brit into the FX loop, and the Presonus before the Pod altogether. 1/4 inch from guitar to Presonus, 1/4 inch from presonus to Pod, XLR left out to main PA direct. Im going to test with presonus post everything, and see how that works also. Ill send pics and updates as I get further into design. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Yes, the Tech 21 Brit into the FX loop, and the Presonus before the Pod altogether. 1/4 inch from guitar to Presonus, 1/4 inch from presonus to Pod, XLR left out to main PA direct. Im going to test with presonus post everything, and see how that works also. Ill send pics and updates as I get further into design. 

great...did it improve the feeling and tone?

did you use an amp sim after the Tech 21 or the emulated output bypassing all the POD amp block?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

No, the tech 21 is my only amp. The signal from the tech 21 is all analog and beautiful! My favorite amp sim in the hd500 is the PHD Motorway, so i am going to try dual amps with that in the chain with the tech 21 brit.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

No, the tech 21 is my only amp. The signal from the tech 21 is all analog and beautiful! My favorite amp sim in the hd500 is the PHD Motorway, so i am going to try dual amps with that in the chain with the tech 21 brit.

cool, so that's exactly the same scenario I was thinking about with a Blackstar Dual.

What about - for example - different crunch settings? Let's say you set your Tech21 with a high gain tone, how d'you get different gain levels for other patches?

I was thinking about dialing a high gain setting on the Blackstar and then putting a volume pedal before it to control the amount of input volume + a studio preamp block after it in order to boost it in my lower gain patches. Or I could dial a mid-gain tone on the pedal and then put a studio preamp before it to boost the signal and a volume pedal block after it to control the overall volume.

 

Would it work in your experience? (I'm asking because I don't have an analog pedal to try before buying it).

Link to comment
Share on other sites

cool, so that's exactly the same scenario I was thinking about with a Blackstar Dual.

What about - for example - different crunch settings? Let's say you set your Tech21 with a high gain tone, how d'you get different gain levels for other patches?

I was thinking about dialing a high gain setting on the Blackstar and then putting a volume pedal before it to control the amount of input volume + a studio preamp block after it in order to boost it in my lower gain patches. Or I could dial a mid-gain tone on the pedal and then put a studio preamp before it to boost the signal and a volume pedal block after it to control the overall volume.

 

Would it work in your experience? (I'm asking because I don't have an analog pedal to try before buying it).

Thats a bit of the downside, as you cant program a patch to hold the settings of the Tech 21. So, if you want to use a different setting of gain in the tech 21 you have to memorize that knob setting and set per song if you only want to use that amp pedal as your main distortion/Gain vehicle. I add a Tube Drive distortion in my signal chain if I want a more metal sound to my flow so I dont have to change my settings on my Tech 21 per song. Be careful though, as if you dont set the distortion sim in the right location you will get mega-hiss in your signal. Also, try taking the Tube Delay on your HD500, and on the delay, turn down the MIX to 0. It will add some Tube smoothness to your overall chain. Make sure its pre-amp.

  • Upvote 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thats a bit of the downside, as you cant program a patch to hold the settings of the Tech 21. So, if you want to use a different setting of gain in the tech 21 you have to memorize that knob setting and set per song if you only want to use that amp pedal as your main distortion/Gain vehicle. I add a Tube Drive distortion in my signal chain if I want a more metal sound to my flow so I dont have to change my settings on my Tech 21 per song. Be careful though, as if you dont set the distortion sim in the right location you will get mega-hiss in your signal. Also, try taking the Tube Delay on your HD500, and on the delay, turn down the MIX to 0. It will add some Tube smoothness to your overall chain. Make sure its pre-amp.

Thanks a lot for the suggestions, very useful.

Problem is I often use different gain tones during the same song, so I need to have a bit flexibility in that ballpark. The Blackstar Dual has 2 channels, but sometimes I need to go from a clean/mid-gain with fx into a dry high gain tone (and I sing too), so that additional channel wouldn't be that useful without some tip-tap dance (Blackstar switch to change channel, POD switch to activate/deactivate FX). That's why I was thinking about the studio preamp/volume pedal trick, but unfortunately I can't try it before pulling the trigger on an analog pedal.

 

The TC Nova Drive looks interesting since it's MIDI, but has no emulated output and other MIDI programmable preamps (like the T-Rex Spindoctor) are pretty big and expensive.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I tried my Fender Mustang floor with my tech 21 pedal last night and the sound was better so I thought, then I went back to my HD500. The 500 sounded awful and not like its normal. I checked my cables and realized I had plugged into my 1/4 jack to our main PA, instead of the normal XLR out. Once I switched them the sound and tone came on like gangbusters. I have a found a strong Joe bonamassa sound that I will send schematics on this week. My current flow is below:

 

1. Guitar into Line6 G30 wireless

2. G30 Wireless into Presonus Tube Pre Amp V2

3. V2 into HD500 Guitar Input

4. Tech 21 British into FX Loop.

5. Pod out to PA. 

 

Finally found my dream tone!!!!

 

My old tones were awesome, but this new tone with Tech 21 is glorious!

 

Line 6 an Tech 21 should get married and have children! Demigods!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

glad you had some great playing experience! ;)

How did you combine those elements in your POD rig? FX loop?

 

I'm thinkin about adding a tube distortion/preamp like the Blackstar Dual for my main heavy tone in order to have an analog distortion source instead of digital.

After some more tweaking, I've come to a conclusion for my rig. I tried running the presonus Post everything, and I didn't like it. to much compression and mud. better to keep it as its supposed to be...preamp. I also ran my Tech 21 British post pod, and I didn't like that either, Way to much volume, and tones were just so harsh. So, I'm running presonus to pod, Tech 21 Brit( My dream emulator) to pod fx loop, and pod out to house!

 

I cannot say enough a out the The Tech 21 character series! I've got a blonde, and a Liverpool on the way to round out my deck. Gotta have them. I got my pod awhile back, and enjoyed the overall tone, but still missed my tube warmth of my old amp, then I got a Fender mustang floor pedal to see if that might satisfy, then a. Zoom G5 since it had a tube!!!! The Presonus preamp brouht on excellent warmth from ots tube better than anything, and then Along comes Tech 21 via some advice from my friends at Sweetwater Music, and voila! The Presonus V2 and the Tech 21 are a match made in heaven when combined with the pod. Even our sound techs at church said, "Man, finally sounds like a real amp in here! Awesome tone!"

Link to comment
Share on other sites

After some more tweaking, I've come to a conclusion for my rig. I tried running the presonus Post everything, and I didn't like it. to much compression and mud. better to keep it as its supposed to be...preamp. I also ran my Tech 21 British post pod, and I didn't like that either, Way to much volume, and tones were just so harsh. So, I'm running presonus to pod, Tech 21 Brit( My dream emulator) to pod fx loop, and pod out to house!

 

I cannot say enough a out the The Tech 21 character series! I've got a blonde, and a Liverpool on the way to round out my deck. Gotta have them. I got my pod awhile back, and enjoyed the overall tone, but still missed my tube warmth of my old amp, then I got a Fender mustang floor pedal to see if that might satisfy, then a. Zoom G5 since it had a tube!!!! The Presonus preamp brouht on excellent warmth from ots tube better than anything, and then Along comes Tech 21 via some advice from my friends at Sweetwater Music, and voila! The Presonus V2 and the Tech 21 are a match made in heaven when combined with the pod. Even our sound techs at church said, "Man, finally sounds like a real amp in here! Awesome tone!"

great stuff, man! Thanks a lot for sharing your experience!

 

When I decide to pull the trigger, I guess my first upgrade will be one of those Blackstar HT pedals (probably a Dual) in the POD fx loop, using their emulated output or external IRs via computer; I tried some of their low-wattage HT series amps and they sounded absolutely killer for my tastes, so I'm sure I'll find something good in the stompbox versions too ;) Besides they're tube, so maybe I could kill two birds with one stone regarding tone and feeling. If not, at that point I could always add a Presonus Tube Pre (this would work with my condenser mic too!) or a Fryette/VHT Valvulator at the very beginning of the chain.

 

A couple more questions man:

 

1 - d'you use your Tech 21 emulated output or run it before a clean amp sim on the POD? Just curious about how those emulated outputs sound when they hit a PA :)

 

2 - how much difference does the Tube Pre make to the overall sound? Could you post some quick samples of your current rig, making brief comparisons of POD sims VS Tech 21 tones, also with and without the Tube Pre, so we can hear how every single piece affect the sound?

That would be absolutely awesome :)

 

Thanks a lot!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I ran it as an AMP into the FX loop before all the effects. I always run straight to the PA in church. I have no amp sims on the pid in my main patch. Ill send a pic of my patch this evening. I play a very Bonamassa-esque tone with my Les paul. I tried to put it before a clean amp sim and the sound was a bit too digital for me. The Tech 21 added some serious analog power to my signal. I just finished playing for an hour and smiled the whole time. Im just blown away at what the the presonus and Tech 21 did for my POD. The Tube Pre makes a world of difference depending on your tweaking, and your ear for minute things. I only wanted a touch of tube, and so I have my Presonus Gain and Main knob both set around 11 oclock. Added a warmth that my signal was severely lacking. Mind you, I put the persons and the tech 21 on at the same time, so I havent A/B them seperately in the chain. Try your blackstar pedal first, and if your signal is not smooth enough, then add the presonus or any tube pre-amp booster. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

cool, the Tech21 emulated output must sound pretty good then...hope the Blackstar's one will work fine too, otherwise I'll use external IRs.

 

Anyway, I guess I'll go this way step by step...thanks again for sharing your experience. Feel free to post more about your setup and findings...I'm always really interested about POD upgrades to make it sound better :)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

 this patch is barren without the TECH 21 British Character Series Amp Emulator Pedal. I have a Tech 21 Blonde on the way and will create a Beefy Fender Patch and Upload. 

 

I dont have TECH 21 British Character Series Amp Emulator Pedal, but i have the Blackstar Dist X. will it help?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

cool, how does it sound along with the HD500 (especially the emulated output)?

I'm thinking about a Dual, but the DistX and the Metal are on my radar too lol

 

It sounds good not great with Vox or Fender tweed amp sim, but i dont have a real amp to mic it. My signal - Guitar>>Crybaby>>Blackstar>>Pod HD500>>PA. it does no justice to the Blackstar...

 

Emulated output sounds thin on a crappy speaker.

 

In India we do not have high end PA or monitors and that sucks. I still have not played it on a good speaker. No pro's in the church to help the sound

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The blackstar should completely rock. The patch is somewhat basic in nature. With my Tech 21 off, its still a smooth clean tone, but there is no other amp sim in the chain. The Tech 21 is in the FX loop, and everything else is normal. Uploading Patch tonite hopefully.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The blackstar should completely rock. The patch is somewhat basic in nature. With my Tech 21 off, its still a smooth clean tone, but there is no other amp sim in the chain. The Tech 21 is in the FX loop, and everything else is normal. Uploading Patch tonite hopefully.

 

I once played the Blackstar on a Bugera tube amp, and it thought of keeping the POD aside.. how can i have the Blackstar in the FX loop?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

cool, how does it sound along with the HD500 (especially the emulated output)?

I'm thinking about a Dual, but the DistX and the Metal are on my radar too lol

Sound is great through FX loop. Is the Blackstar Dist X Pedals Digital or Analog?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

It sounds good not great with Vox or Fender tweed amp sim, but i dont have a real amp to mic it. My signal - Guitar>>Crybaby>>Blackstar>>Pod HD500>>PA. it does no justice to the Blackstar...

 

Emulated output sounds thin on a crappy speaker.

 

In India we do not have high end PA or monitors and that sucks. I still have not played it on a good speaker. No pro's in the church to help the sound

I understand...unfortunately that's the main drawback of plugging directly into a PA, your tone is always linked to the quality of the system.

 

Regarding the DistX, d'you use just one tone out of it? I was wondering about putting it in the fx loop and then boosting or cutting the input volume before it to get different gain stages.

If this would work I could save some money and get the DistX instead of the Dual

Link to comment
Share on other sites

 

 

Regarding the DistX, d'you use just one tone out of it? I was wondering about putting it in the fx loop and then boosting or cutting the input volume before it to get different gain stages.

If this would work I could save some money and get the DistX instead of the Dual

 No... it is just one tone ot of it..but due to the ISF it goes from American metal to British Crunch...it is what they say...even the EQ's on the Blackstar are super responsive. Gain...too much of it. If you have a high gain amp, this pedal you may want to use as a boost, or for a clean amp it will growl.

 

have you thought of Fulltone OCD. that is what Don Felder uses.

 

http://guitarturf.com/articles/don-felders-guitar-gear/

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Here's a sound bite of the patch I use with the Tech 21 with Tech 21 pedal disengaged. Im also singing on this sound bite to give a feel of the room and the tone working together. The patch by itself is still a good sounding patch IMO. Enjoy....

 

https://soundcloud.com/jasonk931/how-he-loves-short-test

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Here's a sound bite of the patch I use with the Tech 21 with Tech 21 pedal disengaged. Im also singing on this sound bite to give a feel of the room and the tone working together. The patch by itself is still a good sounding patch IMO. Enjoy....

 

https://soundcloud.com/jasonk931/how-he-loves-short-test

 Will definately check it once i am home from work.

 

I just checked your website - jasonkerr.org. Amazing to see a pastor with the mighty Gibson LES PAUL 1959 :)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Ha, yes, I love my Gibbys. I had a large collection at one time, and then I slowly began to sell many, as they were just taking up wall space and I wants guitars I will really play. I play my White LP Custom the most, by burst second, and my Fender Strat Deluxe Goldtop 3rd.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'm adding a new pedal to my chain this weekend. I will update with review soon. Due to my extreme joy for my new Tech 21 British pedal for my rythm and lead tones, I bit the bullet and found a killer deal on a Tech 21 Liverpool. The Brit is essentially a Marshall Amp in a pedal (ALL ANALOG< HALLELUJAH!) and the Liverpool is essentially a Vox AC30 in a pedal. Im putting the Liverpool in for my clean tones. I want the fatness in the clean section that the AC30 gives, combined with its chime. Below is my configuration, and oh, how I adore it! Cheers.


 


Guitar into:


 


1. Line 6 G30 wireless unit into:


2. Presonus V2 Tube Preamp into:


3. Tech 21 British Character Pedal into:


4. Line 6 Pod HD500 FX Loop


5. The LIVERPOOL will chain to to the British pedal, both entering Pod FX loop, as they are Tru-Bypass pedals. 


6. Screaming wonderful tone into:


7. Mine and any other ears in hearing distance! lol. 


Link to comment
Share on other sites

 

5. The LIVERPOOL will chain to to the British pedal, both entering Pod FX loop, as they are Tru-Bypass pedals. 

 - do you have single or dual fx block - i mean -

    1st Fx for British Pedal and 2nd Fx for Liverpool, or do you have only one Fx for both...and if only ONE FX then if you dont need any one of the pedal you switch it off ??

Link to comment
Share on other sites

 

I'm adding a new pedal to my chain this weekend. I will update with review soon. Due to my extreme joy for my new Tech 21 British pedal for my rythm and lead tones, I bit the bullet and found a killer deal on a Tech 21 Liverpool. The Brit is essentially a Marshall Amp in a pedal (ALL ANALOG< HALLELUJAH!) and the Liverpool is essentially a Vox AC30 in a pedal. Im putting the Liverpool in for my clean tones. I want the fatness in the clean section that the AC30 gives, combined with its chime. Below is my configuration, and oh, how I adore it! Cheers.

 

Guitar into:

 

1. Line 6 G30 wireless unit into:

2. Presonus V2 Tube Preamp into:

3. Tech 21 British Character Pedal into:

4. Line 6 Pod HD500 FX Loop

5. The LIVERPOOL will chain to to the British pedal, both entering Pod FX loop, as they are Tru-Bypass pedals. 

6. Screaming wonderful tone into:

7. Mine and any other ears in hearing distance! lol. 

 

I'm adding a new pedal to my chain this weekend. I will update with review soon. Due to my extreme joy for my new Tech 21 British pedal for my rythm and lead tones, I bit the bullet and found a killer deal on a Tech 21 Liverpool. The Brit is essentially a Marshall Amp in a pedal (ALL ANALOG< HALLELUJAH!) and the Liverpool is essentially a Vox AC30 in a pedal. Im putting the Liverpool in for my clean tones. I want the fatness in the clean section that the AC30 gives, combined with its chime. Below is my configuration, and oh, how I adore it! Cheers.

 

Guitar into:

 

1. Line 6 G30 wireless unit into:

2. Presonus V2 Tube Preamp into:

3. Tech 21 British Character Pedal into:

4. Line 6 Pod HD500 FX Loop

5. The LIVERPOOL will chain to to the British pedal, both entering Pod FX loop, as they are Tru-Bypass pedals. 

6. Screaming wonderful tone into:

7. Mine and any other ears in hearing distance! lol. 

hi, i have 2 questions, put you the tech in fx loop and in the beginning of the chain in the patch( firts effect?)? and when you want a clean sound? how do you do if you dont put a sim amp in chain? thanks

Link to comment
Share on other sites

hi, i have 2 questions, put you the tech in fx loop and in the beginning of the chain in the patch( firts effect?)? and when you want a clean sound? how do you do if you dont put a sim amp in chain? thanks

Actually, My setup on patch is Wah, Tube Distortion pedal for when I need it, then my FX loop in, and then Delay, reverb, etc... I am using the Tech 21 Liverpool mainly for my clean tones, So, I use the same patch for both rythm rock leads, etc and for cleans. For my rythm, rock, leads, I use the Tech 21 British. When I want a clean tone, I simply disengage the British and engage the Liverpool. I will post pics tomorrow of the actual board, and patch.  Thanks. Due to my amazement with the Liverpool, I will probably get the Tech 21 blonde for my clean tones, and use british and liverpool for my rockin! The chimes of the Liverpool ac30 tones are sick!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 4 weeks later...

 

Actually, My setup on patch is Wah, Tube Distortion pedal for when I need it, then my FX loop in, and then Delay, reverb, etc... I am using the Tech 21 Liverpool mainly for my clean tones, So, I use the same patch for both rythm rock leads, etc and for cleans. For my rythm, rock, leads, I use the Tech 21 British. When I want a clean tone, I simply disengage the British and engage the Liverpool. I will post pics tomorrow of the actual board, and patch.  Thanks. Due to my amazement with the Liverpool, I will probably get the Tech 21 blonde for my clean tones, and use british and liverpool for my rockin! The chimes of the Liverpool ac30 tones are sick!

 

Please post your patches

 

Thanks - Pratik

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

 Share

×
×
  • Create New...